Official health advice

Adults and children with lung and heart problems are advised to reduce physical exertion

Those with asthma may find they need to use their inhaler more often

Drivers, cyclists, joggers and pedestrians are advised to seek out less polluted roads to avoid the toxic air

Mr Khan has described the capital's dirty air as a "public health emergency" and has said his office will continue to closely monitor pollution levels over the coming days.

"It's crucial that Londoners who are vulnerable, such as asthma sufferers, are able to take appropriate measures to protect themselves" Mr Khan said.

The Labour mayor called on the government "to urgently play their part" by funding a national diesel scrappage scheme, reforming vehicle excise duty and bringing in a new Clean Air Act.

Image copyrightTfLImage caption
Air quality alerts are displayed at bus and Tube stations

Light winds coupled with a "cold cap of air sitting over the city" are keeping car emissions close to the ground in the capital, said Andrew Grieve, from KCL.

An area of high pressure bringing pollution from industrial and urban areas of Germany and the near-Continent is also contributing to the problem.

Tom Edwards, BBC London Transport correspondent

It is not uncommon to get pollution episodes in winter. What is unusual is for the Mayor to continue to issue warnings to Londoners.

He talked about better communication about pollution during the election and this is the second time he's done it - although this time it has attracted much more media interest.

The reason for the pollution spike is, as campaigners put it, because we are "stewing in our own emissions".

Sadiq Khan, who says tackling pollution is a priority, has used this to call on the government to do much more.

A 2015 study found air pollution in London was been linked to 9,400 premature deaths a year.

The City Air app, produced by Kings College London and the City of London Corporation, allows Londoners to see pollution levels on their journeys through the city.

The environmental law group Client Earth, which has successfully sued the UK government twice over poor air quality, said it was a "shameful reminder of the severity of London's air pollution" and "shows why the mayor has rightly made tackling it a top priority".